Indy 500 pole to NZ’s Dixon

WASHINGTON (AFP) – New Zealand's Scott Dixon captured pole position for the 101st Indianapolis 500 with a dramatic four-lap qualifying run Sunday while Formula One racer Fernando Alonso booked a second-row start.

Dixon, who won his only Indy 500 crown in 2008 from pole, shocked even himself by driving his Hondapowered car around the 2.5-mile (4km) Indianapolis Motor Speedway oval at 232.164 mph (373.631 km/hr).

He then watched rivals try in vain to bump him from the inside front row spot in next Sunday's IndyCar classic.

''When I saw that first lap (at 232.595mph) I was a little shocked myself,'' Dixon said. ''It feels damn good. But this was job one. The pole is its own race. The significance is big. But the most important thing is the race. Let's bring on next week.''